Taking the Antidote (Revised)

The relationship between Extreme Yin and the Heavenly Baleful Gang was quite delicate.

On one hand, both sides guarded against each other, each fearing that the other harbored ill intent.

On the other hand, they both needed to borrow the other's strength.

Extreme Yin needed the Heavenly Baleful Gang to find all kinds of spirit herbs for him and capture literate youths in their teens.

The Heavenly Baleful Gang, meanwhile, relied on Extreme Yin's reputation as an immortal to intimidate powerful martial artists and the Gan Kingdom's imperial court, making them reluctant to take action against the gang.

In pursuit of immortality, Tang Liang had once tried listening in on Extreme Yin's morning lessons, but he had only caught a few scattered words and failed to grasp the method.

Those youths who failed to cultivate successfully were all executed under Extreme Yin's watch. Tang Liang's plan to obtain cultivation methods from them had died before it could begin.

Tang Liang's expression darkened, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

"Which mortal doesn't want to become an immortal? But how could an immortal opportunity be so easily obtained?"

Gou Hang sighed. "Even a hero like the Young Gang Master can't come into contact with an immortal opportunity. A small fry like me has even less hope. Yet even a little beggar by the roadside can receive an immortal opportunity while the Young Gang Master cannot. Immortal opportunities truly are impossible to fathom."

Tang Liang frowned deeply. "What little beggar?"

Gou Hang said, "Young Gang Master, don't you know? Elder Extreme Yin has accepted a personal disciple. He used to be a little beggar."

Tang Liang looked disdainful. "I thought some little beggar had gotten lucky and picked up an immortal technique. Elder Extreme Yin has had more than one personal disciple. As for how they ended up... heh heh."

Gou Hang said, "This time is different. Elder Extreme Yin seems to have truly accepted a disciple. That person can freely enter and leave the Heavenly Baleful Gang. Elder Extreme Yin's former disciples couldn't even leave his courtyard."

Tang Liang raised a brow. "Is that true?"

Gou Hang said, "How would I dare deceive the Young Gang Master? That person is called Song Wen. I was the one who brought him into the Heavenly Baleful Gang. The Young Gang Master only needs to investigate to know. I even ran into him just now."

"Go! Take me to find him."

Tang Liang was tempted. He did not dare lay a hand on Extreme Yin, but could he not deal with some teenager?

Gou Hang's expression stiffened, and he hurriedly grabbed Tang Liang, who had already taken several steps.

"Young Gang Master, what are you doing?"

"Of course, I'm going to find him and demand the method of immortality." Tang Liang spoke as if it were only natural.

"Young Gang Master, you must not act rashly. What if Song Wen fails to appreciate your kindness and refuses to hand it over?"

Gou Hang's goal was not to let Tang Liang obtain the cultivation method, but to eliminate Song Wen, this potential threat, once and for all.

If Song Wen really handed the cultivation method over to Tang Liang, then all of Gou Hang's efforts would have been for nothing.

Tang Liang glared. "He dares refuse?"

Gou Hang said, "Even if he hands over the method of immortality, what if he returns and reports this matter to Elder Extreme Yin? How will the Young Gang Master deal with that?"

Tang Liang pondered for a moment. "You make some sense. I truly hadn't realized before that you, Gou Hang, had some brains. Then tell me, what should we do?"

Gou Hang lowered his voice. "Naturally, we must act in secret. Kidnap Song Wen directly, force the cultivation method out of him, then kill him. That way, no one will know. Before we act, though, we must first find out Song Wen's strength."

After a moment, Tang Liang nodded. "If this succeeds, you can stay by my side from now on. That brain of yours is quite useful."

"Thank you for your favor, Young Gang Master."

Excitement shone in Gou Hang's eyes. This was truly killing two birds with one stone. Not only could he deal with the threat of Song Wen, but he would also earn the Young Gang Master's favor.

Completely unaware of all this, Song Wen returned to Extreme Yin's small courtyard after leaving the stall.

After returning to his quarters, Song Wen began meditating and cultivating.

Now that he had a way to deal with Extreme Yin, he naturally had to cultivate with greater urgency. The stronger he became, the better he could handle danger.

Four days passed in the blink of an eye.

Over the past few days, Song Wen had done nothing but cultivate and tend to the spirit herbs each day. He had not gone out.

Having kept careful track of the days, Song Wen knew that today was the day to take the antidote.

Early in the morning, he went up to the second floor. After knocking softly on the door several times, Extreme Yin's voice came from within before he could speak.

"Wait outside."

Song Wen could only wait quietly at the door. A quarter of an hour later, Extreme Yin finally opened it.

He glanced at Song Wen, seemingly already aware of why he had come, and handed him a porcelain bottle.

"This is this month's antidote."

After saying that, Extreme Yin headed downstairs.

"Thank you, Master, for granting me the medicine." Song Wen spoke respectfully as he watched Extreme Yin's retreating figure.

He felt that Extreme Yin was in a poor mood today, as though something had not gone his way.

What Song Wen did not know was that, as of today, not a single new student had successfully sensed qi.

Song Wen took the porcelain bottle back to his room.

He pulled out the stopper and found a dark-red pill inside. After a brief moment of thought, Song Wen tipped his head back and swallowed it.

He had originally planned to take it later, to see whether the abundant blood qi and that mysterious energy in his body could resist the poison.

But after careful consideration, he decided against it. There was no need to risk his life on such a test.

If the poison erupted with exceptional ferocity and instantly took his life, it would be far too late for regrets.

After taking the antidote, he felt nothing at all. It was like swallowing an ordinary pill.

Still, Song Wen felt somewhat relieved. At least for the next seven days, he would not need to worry about the poison of the Seven-Day Heartbreak Pill.

At dusk.

After cultivating bitterly for several days in a row, Song Wen decided to go out for a walk and have dinner while he was at it.

"Song Wen, where are you going?"

The moment he stepped out of his room, he heard Extreme Yin's voice from the second floor.

Song Wen looked up and saw Extreme Yin standing in the second-floor corridor.

"Reporting to Master, I'm going out for a walk."

Extreme Yin nodded. "Return early. Salt City is not peaceful at night. You have only just begun cultivating, and the spiritual power in your body is weak. You do not know any spells either. If you encounter a somewhat stronger martial artist, you will be no match for them."

"Thank you for your concern, Master."

With that, Song Wen headed outside.

Song Wen understood Extreme Yin's sudden concern well enough. The man merely feared losing an excellent medicine slave; he did not truly care whether Song Wen lived or died.

Still, Extreme Yin had a point. Salt City was indeed far more dangerous at night.

Not far from the Heavenly Baleful Gang, Song Wen found a restaurant that looked fairly decent.

Not long after he sat down, a waiter brought out several fine dishes.

After eating and drinking his fill, Song Wen had just stepped out of the restaurant when he saw Gou Hang approaching from ahead.

"Young Master Song, I didn't expect us to run into each other here again today."

Song Wen looked at Gou Hang as he approached, feeling somewhat puzzled.

The last time they met, Gou Hang had clearly been avoiding him. Why was he being so enthusiastic today?

Moreover, Gou Hang's appearance here was too much of a coincidence.

Without showing anything on his face, Song Wen smiled. "Master Gou, what a coincidence indeed. Have you eaten dinner? If not, I'll treat you."

Gou Hang said, "How could I let Young Master Song spend money? Come, I'll treat Young Master Song to music at a pleasure house."

Song Wen had intended to find a secluded place and kill Gou Hang, but now that Gou Hang had unexpectedly come to him on his own, Song Wen grew suspicious.

When the two had first met, Song Wen had been sold out by this man. He did not dare underestimate Gou Hang just because he appeared to be nothing more than a petty thug.

He felt that Gou Hang was somewhat different today. After thinking it over, Song Wen realized why.

Today, Gou Hang had come alone. The two burly men who usually followed him were nowhere to be seen.

"Why don't I see your two underlings?"

A flicker of panic crossed Gou Hang's face. "They... they had something to do today, so they didn't come with me."

He had come today to lure Song Wen into a trap. Naturally, the fewer people who knew about it, the better. Why would he bring along two useless underlings?

Catching the unnatural look on Gou Hang's face, Song Wen immediately made his decision.

"Thank you for the invitation, Master Gou, but before I left, Master instructed me that I had to return before dark. I can only disappoint you and decline your kind offer."

Song Wen cupped his hands toward Gou Hang, then stepped out of the restaurant and headed toward the Heavenly Baleful Gang.

Gou Hang watched Song Wen's departing back. His expression was initially somewhat disappointed, but it soon turned vicious.

Although night had not yet fully fallen, the sun had long since set. The sky was dim, and there were few pedestrians on the road, only a sparse handful.

It would not be impossible to strike by force.

He raised his right hand and made a throat-slitting gesture.

Song Wen followed the main road for several dozen yards. Ahead of him, on the right, was a fork leading into a dark alley.

Suspecting nothing, Song Wen continued onward.

Just as he reached the fork, three men in black suddenly sprang out of the alley.

The three men wore tight black garments and covered their faces, revealing only their eyes.

The man in black closest to Song Wen raised a hand and grabbed at him.

By the time Song Wen noticed the attackers, that man was less than two feet away.